Layla Emerald Divine Swatch

Hello!

When I saw that Layla came out with more holos a couple of months ago, I couldn't resist this green. Its what I imagine Nubar Reclaim would be if I could ever find it in stock anywhere. Haha.

This is Emerald Divine. While not as holo as Mercury Twilight or Flash Back, the colour is much more deep and intense. It really is a stunning green. Don't get my wrong, it's VERY holographic, just not as in-yo-face as the silver or black. Its much more holo than my pictures are usual. There wasn't any sunshine so these were taken inside.

This is three coats, floated on gently to avoid pulling baldy patches. The first picture is inside and the second picture is with flash!

I dig this colour. Im a big fan of greens and I like that this is holo but still retains a lot of deep colour. The formula is bitchy but you get used to it like the rest of the Layla holos.

Thanks for reading!

Delicate Manicure FT OPI Don't Touch My Tutu, OPI Happy Anniversary & Lynnderella Love Lace and Lilacs

Greetings Fellow Earthlings! 

I don't often wear delicate manicures but when the need calls, you answer. I experimented with some layering, because delicate doesn't have to mean boring.. and came up with this shimmery jelly sammich.

Layering Combo:

OPI Don't Touch My Tutu

OPI Happy Anniversary

Lynnderella Love Lace and Lilacs

OPI Don't Touch My Tutu 

You can see a bit of visible nail line but I am okay with it. I was worried you'd be able to see my unsightly stained nails through this sheerish mani (and you can a bit in pictures) but in person it wasn't noticeable!

I hope you like todays post! Thanks for reading!

Quick NOTD with OPI

Heyyoooooo

Here is a quick swatch of OPI My Very First Knockerwerst. When the Germany collection came out, almost everyone picked Don't Pretzel My Buttons as their favourite nude in the collection. But I actually preferred this one! It has hints of pink while still being nude. I find it kind of feminine while still being appropriate. Nudes typically look horrid with my skin tone. Out of the nudes I own, I think this one might be the least offensive! I think its the pink in it.

This is two standard OPI creme coats. I think I'll wear this when I do job/school finding related things :)

Thanks for reading!

Review Of The January Ispy Bag! My very first subscription box!

Hi everyone!

Today is a little something different. I thought I would do a review of my very first subscription bag! I picked the Ispy bag because I heard great things about it. Lets take a look!

Here is the bag it came in, navy blue, canvas like and seems to be sturdy. Will be perfect for carting around make up or polish. I love bags like this and use them often. Its a nice touch to the subscription. I'd also like to add that the bag came in a BRIGHT PINK METALLIC bubble mailer. Very nice touch.

Cute little logo and stars on the inside of the bag.

Here is the first item I got. Its Pacifica Body Butter in Tuscan Blood Orange. It isn't full sized at 2.5 fl oz but is the perfect size for your nightstand or purse and would last you quite a long time. Much bigger than sample size. It has a nice flip top cap which is a small detail but makes using it easier since I can't drop the cap and watch it roll under my bed. The packaging is really nice and colourful. I like when body butters come in a tube because I don't have to dig into the tub and get the cream all under my fingernails. The product is 100% vegan and does not test on animals. I love that in a product :) It is also free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oils. peanut oil, and artificial colour. This means it is perfect for my sensitive skin. A portion of proceeds are also donated to support clean water. I like that about this product too.

 

The scent is wonderful. Tropical and cirtrusy with a hint of sweet and spicy. Its not overpowering and it is actually the type of scent I enjoy the most. It doesn't smell at all like chemicals or fake plastic smell like some products do. It applied really nice and smooth. It absorbed quickly and didn't leave my skin feeling greasy at all. It also kept my hands soft, smooth and moisturized for quite a long time. It has a nice consistency, being substantial without being heavy. I give this product top marks because it does a great job at what it says it will do and it smells quite amazing. The 2.5oz tube retails for 7.00, and the 8oz tube retails for 15.00 HERE. You get 20% off using code BEAUTY20.

The next product is Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Volumizing Hair Spray. I don't used a lot of hairspray so this sample size is perfect for me. It would also make the perfect travel sized hair spray at 1.3oz. I tried this product and I usually HATE the chemically smell of hairspray. I find it choking. But this one wasn't all that bad. Still hair-spray-like but milder. I liked this product because I could still brush through my hair after applying it. My hair held its shape nicely without being stuck, stringy, fake looking, or wet looking. I'll use this again. The full size product retails for 17.50 (Whoa, is that what hairspray goes for now-a-days?) Get $5 off $25 of Big Sexy Hair Products at Ulta.com with code 70950.

This picture shows the size of the product better in comparison to a standard OPI polish bottle. 

Next up is Josie Maran Argan Oil. This comes in a small glass brown bottle with a dropper. They recommend this product as a moisturizer for skin & face, cuticle oil, hair oil, etc. This is the small bottle, I think about 15ml  I have a picture here comparing it to a standard OPI bottle. This size would be perfect for your purse and nightstand and in my opinion, would last a long time. A little goes a long way with this oil. I liked this on my cuticles, they sucked it right in and did a good job at moisturizing them. I noticed less peeling and hangnails around my nails. I loved this product in my hair as well. De-tanged my knots after the shower and kept my hair silky and smooth all day. I did not try this on my face or skin. I have very acne prone skin and I know some people swear by this stuff but I just couldn't risk it on my face. I have read that it really helps with dry skin though. This product does not have any scent, which I am sure some people will love. I, on the other hand.. enjoy my argan oil with some scent. I have a bottle of Moroccan Argan Oil that I typically use in my hair. Its a 120ml bottle that I got at winner for $20 (much cheaper) and smells of fruit. Because of the price and scent, I will stick to my own regular oil. I won't purchase this one. The small bottle retails for about $15 and the big bottle at 120ml costs 96$ :O Use code Ipsy15 HERE to get 15% off a 45$ purchase and free shipping.

The next product is a SOHO concealer make up brush. I was so happy to get this in the Ipsy bag as I was in need of a new brush. My last one was from ELF and it broke after about a month. This one feels very sturdy, is full size, and of good quality. The handle of the brush is designed nicely and has grooves for your fingers to fit in. The bristles are thick and applied my concealer very nicely. The thickness kind of made it a pain to wash though. It got all stuck in there. But all concealer brushes I have had have been like this. I would buy this product again. It retails for between 5-11 dollars depending on the store. Get $3 off a purchase of SOHO Make Up Brushes at www.walgreens.com!

Last but not least, the nail polish! I received Nailtini in Bloody Mary. This is my first Nailtini polish. The bottle is tall but not tippy and the handle is nice. I find the bottle just a bit too tall though. I found the polish could drip down the handle while painting. It is full sized at 15ml/.5fl oz.

Here is a quick and dirty swatch with two coats of colour. It applied decently well. The consistency was a bit different that I am used to.. almost sticky? It was also sort of crelly ish, not a creamy polish. It was easy enough to get a clean cuticle line with it though. The colour is nice and bright. A classic red. Two coats was enough for opacity. It also dried very glossy, this picture has no topcoat. I did wear this as a full mani to test wear time. Wear time is always different for everyone with different brands but this one lasted two days before I got bored and took it off. Nailtini retails for $13 dollars. I feel that that is kind of pricey considering there is nothing overly special about it. On there webpage there is a few other colours that look more interesting. I might check those out but if I was looking for a red creme, I most likely would choose a cheaper one. You can get 30% off your purchase HERE though with code ipsystar.

The Ipsy Bag is only $10 (Plus 4.50 shipping to Canada, which is quite reasonable). What a steal for these products. The value of the bag far far outweighs the price I paid. Plus I love a surprise and I love trying new things. All the products in this bag were cool to try even if I wouldn't have purchased them myself originally.  I recommend you give this a try for sure, you can cancel anytime. Sign up here: www.ipsy.com :)

*Heads up* Most of the discount codes won't work for international customers like myself :(

Deborah Lippman Swagga Like Us Swatch & Stamping!

Happy Friday!

Today I have pictures of Deborah Lippmann's Swagga Like Us. This polish has a special place in my heart because it was a Christmas gift from one of my closest and kindest friends. I'll call her V. She hasn't seen my collection but managed to get me a polish that is gorgeous, perfect with my skin tone, suits my personality, and last but not least... I did not already own it! That is quite a feat considering I am teetering over 500 in my collection. 

Here is the picture i posted to Instagram to show her how much I love it. If you have instagram, please feel free to follow me at caitcrawf23 :)

DL Swagga Like Us is a green/gold duochrome polish (read: Chanel Peridot dupe) & I really love it against my skin tone. It applied nicely, sort of like a chrome or metallic finish polish would and needed only two coats for opacity. It did show some imperfections on my nails, so if you have ridges like me, a base coat or a light buffing really makes application more smooth. I also REALLY love the name of this polish, reminds me of my friend, V, and the song... "no one on the corner have swagga' like usssss" Haha :)

GAH. Look at that ding on my pinky. Don't worry I fixed that up after I saw these pictures. This picture was taken still tacky and pre-topcoat and you can see a few brushstrokes. The picture below was taken AFTER topcoat and shows its real finish better.

Sigh. I really like how this turned out on me. Its flattering on my skintone and after topcoat does have a chrome like feel. Not like Layla chromes but a sparkly chrome look, if that makes sense.

& then I decided to practice my stamping skills. I was brave & attempted a full nail leopard design with Wet 'n Wild Black Creme. It could be more "clear" but I think it turned out well. I liked it so much I added rhinestones wore it as a full manicure :)

I'm very happy with this polish and manicure! I want to send happy vibes and hugs to my bff V for gifting me this beauty :) Thanks V!

Thanks for reading!

China Glaze Cowgirl Up Swatch

 oHello!

Today I've got a swatch of an older polish, China Glaze Cowgirl Up. This came out in the Rodeo Diva Collection from 2008. My swatch pulls really red toned but it is more purple than my picture. It is an intense (slightly frosty but NOT brushstrokey) berry purple shimmer. It has a standard China Glaze two coat formula and it very flattering and pretty. Its actually a perfect fall polish but I wear it year round.

What do you think of Cowgirl Up? You can still find this polish here on 8ty8beauty.com for under $4 :) Thanks for reading!

Duri Don't Think Twice & Glitzology Island of Misfit Toys

Hello!

Today I am showing you two polishes that make up my manicure.

First.. the undies which is just one coat of Duri Don't Think Twice. To me, Duri is such an underrated brand. Every one I have tried so far has been flawless and I really think they need more attention as a brand. Get on the marketing bandwagon Duri because your product rocks. This polish is what would happen if you crushed up  lavender and mixed it with wet cement and let it dry. Its a perfect grey with slight purple undertones. It has one coat coverage and great application. I love it.

Then I added one coat of Glitzology Island of Misfit Toys. I had to have this polish for a number of reasons

1. The name is awesome. 

2. Intense shimmery base that sparkles like crazy.

3. Square matte glitter in rainbow colours :)

I love the idea and the execution of this one. I had no trouble getting the glitter out of the bottles or onto the nail. It applied really nicely. Great polish.

You can find Duri at Winners in Canada (but they are always late with their collections) & also at www.NinjaPolish.com & Glitzology is made by Stacy on Etsy :) She usually has some good sales & has a ton of selection. Check her out!

Thanks for reading :)

Jade Gets Slapped With A Gradient!

Hayooooooo

Today I am showing off what I did with Butter London Slapper! I decided to practice my gradient skillz. I don't have many skillz in the gradient department but I am getting a bit better each time I try.

I sponged on OPI Jade Is The New Black starting at the tips. I picked Jade Is The New Black because I figured the colours were similar enough that the gradient would be subtle... AKA easier to blend :) I added a coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust afterwards for some sparkle and topped it with HK Girl Topcoat.

 I'm the first to admit that I am not an expert at gradients but I think this one is my best attempt yet. I think the key to blending (with me, anyway) is to choose colours that are similar in tone and finish.

I hope you enjoyed todays post, thank you for reading :)

Butter London Slapper Swatch

Oh hay it's Friday! I think is it Friday... my days are all jumbled up!

Here is a quick swatch of Butter London Slapper! Teal creme perfection. Great formula, bright clean colour, flattering. I'm wearing two coats in these pictures and I am a fan. 

I always wanted to try a BL creme because of all the good things I heard about the formula but I was hesitant because of the $14 price tag. Well, I am a believer. This was awesome to apply. I think I'll only purchase during sales though. $14 is a lot of money. You can find Butter London at their website (which does NOT ship to Canada), Karmaloop.com & Nailpolishcanada.com. I've also seen a stray BL on a rack at Winners so keep your eyes peeled.

Overall thoughts about Slapper:
-Great formula and a great colour
-I love the bottle shape, stores well and is not tippy
-I love that the cap pops off and reveals a user friendly brush handle
-$14 is pricey but worth it if you love the colour

Thanks for reading!

My picks *so far* from NOPI's Modern Family Collection! & A Surprise Gradient.

Hello!

Today I am showing you the two polishes I allowed myself to pick up from the Modern Family Collection by Nicole by OPI. I am OBSESSED with Modern Family. Almost to the point of being unhealthy. I could probably recite every single line from every episode. I watch it every night before bed. I just love it a lot so I had to pick up just a couple to show my support for the show.

My Shoppers Drug Mart only had 1/2 of the collection, so I am thinking I might take another peek next week and maybe get a few more. I don't usually buy NOPI because I don't like the bottle shape all that much. I know that sounds superficial, but once you've got about a centimetre of polish gone, the shape makes it really hard to get the polish out. You need two hands to tip the bottle to reach the polish with the brush.

Enough rambling.

First up: Back In My Gloria Days
Red toned (almost magenta) purple with matching microglitter (large particle shimmer?). Much more red toned and a little lighter than my pictures. My camera hates purple. Its a very pretty polish. Flattering and flashy, just like Gloria. I needed three coats for opacity, as it was a little thin and sheerish.

Second to bat: Whats the Mitch-uation?

Deeeeep blue shimmer. Blackened almost on the ends with a glowing centre. Is it too similar to OPI Tomorrow Never Dies? No because it is a bit more cool toned with no hints of purple. Unfortunately I didn't like the formula on this one at all. Quite sheer and draggy. Definitely need to wait a few minutes between coats to get it to behave. But if your patient, the end result is really pretty and rich.

 I decided these colours would be perfect to practice my gradient skills since they were sheer and build-able and similar in finish. Here is my attempt:

Not perfect, but I am getting better. Then I went overboard and added some silver stamping & rhinestones. Too much? I think so. But good practice for stamping though!

That is all for today! Thank you for reading!

My Picks from the Desserts d'Antoinette by Lime Crime

Herroh polish people!

Today I am showing you the two polishes I picked from Lime Crime's Dessert d'Antoinette Collection. This collection was right down my alley, super bright pastel colors. I know right? That description doesn't even make sense. But it is true and that is why I like them I guess!

A few things to note about this line:

-They come in VERY cute purple and white boxes with unicorns and bows... that I don't have a picture of, sorry.

-The bottles are frosted glass with the Lime Crime Logo and the names are on a black label on the bottom with a cute logo.

-They are slightly smaller than your average polish at 9ml and retail for 5.99 on the Lime Crime website, a few of which are sold out right now. They only ship within the US though. But you can also find them at Harlow & Co & KarmaLoop which both happily ship to Canada.

-They don't dry to a really shiny finish, not matte, but not uuuber shiny. They need topcoat if you want a lot of gloss.

My first pick was Milky Ways. A vanilla off-white creme. Its slightly warm toned and pulls to the yellow side of off-white on my skin. I like it because it is in the white family but without being straight up white. Formula wise I heard amazing things and that is was a two coater, but I needed three to even everything out. Not a terrible thing, but worth mentioning.

My other pick was Peaches <3 Cream. A bright pastel peach. If you follow my blog, you know why I needed this one. It is THE cantaloupe colour I have been searching for!! I originally thought I found "this" colour when I tried Julep Hayden, but I was wrong.. THIS is the perfect cantaloupe polish. It just didn't exist when I was originally looking for it! This is two coats and I love it! My sister really loves it, which I am thrilled about because she was the original reason I was looking for a polish this colour.

After seeing swatches of the other colours from other bloggers, I now realize I also need Lavendairy, Once in the Blue Mousse, and Pastelchio. And possibly.. Ok no. I need the rest of them. I really like them.

Overall thoughts:
Awesome colours, good price, decent formula. I think these are a win!

OPI You Don't Know Jacques Suede!

Herrrroh.

Today I am sporting what I like to consider the best quick, easy, and appropriate polish. This is OPI You Don't Know Jacques, Suede. YDKJ Suede is a golden toned taupe with a foil-like shimmer but dries matte- hence being referred to as a suede.

Here are some reasons why I love it:

-It is a one coater, extremely quick to apply and gives great coverage with a great formula.

-It dries insanely fast. So you can do your nails and be out the door with no worries of dinging your nails and ruining them.

-It is a nice palette cleanser and appropriate for a conservative environment.

-It looks good with my skin tone :)

-Looks fabulous with topcoat as well, brings out the shimmer while still being a neutral. 

Cons:

-Chips easily. It really is a one-day wear kind of polish.

-Harder to find. It was a part of the suede collection that I think came out in 2009 or 2010 so it isn't hanging out on the permanent collection racks.

This is one of my go-to colors when I need something fast and appropriate. I hope you like it. Thanks for reading!

Sunday Swatch Spam FT. OPI

Herrrroh.

Today I've got some swatch spam for you by OPI. Take a peek!

OPI We'll Always Have Paris Suede

Pinky-purple-heaven in just ONE coat.

OPI Orge The Top Blue
Perfect medium blue creme in a perfect two coats.

OPI Danke Shiny Red.
My favourite one-coat red by OPI. Stunning shimmer on this one!

OPI Alpine Snow.
3 Thin coats of a stark white. Perhaps a bit too stark for me, but it works if that is what you are goin' for.

OPI Funky Dunky.

Two coats of grape purple perfection. I love that this always looks purple and never too dark.

OPI Fly.
Excellent teal creme/crelly. I love this one. Bright, clean, awesome.

OPI You Only Live Twice
Raspberry Glassfleck with a three thin coat formula. It seriously glows. I love this one.

& That is it for today! I hope you liked my Sunday swatch spam :)
Thank you for reading!

Color Club Wicked Sweet Swatch

*Sheepish wave*

Hi guys. I'm sorry I have been gone for so long. I don't really want to talk about what happened but I am ready to get back to talking about polish.

I need to do some picture uploading so here is an oldie that was hiding in the un-published vault. So I am sporting some pretty serious shorties here.

Color Club Wicked Sweet. The namesake of the collection, it smells like sugar. How fitting. It is a shimmery (almost frosty, but not brushstrokey) sky blue leaning aqua. This is two coats.

 I actually really like it against my skin. I will be wearing this one again.

So long for now & thanks for reading!